An America based academic, Dr. Khadijat Rashid, has appealed to the federal government to increase funding for education for the deaf.
She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Washington DC Wednesday that such increase in funding would provide people living with disability access to education.
The don said that funding of education for the deaf would be profitable to Nigerian economy.
Rashid, a specialist in education for the deaf, is currently working as a professor and dean of the School of Education, Business and Human Services, Gallaudet University, U.S.
Gallaudet University is a federally chartered private university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington.
She said that neglect or underfunding of education for the deaf or people living with disability could be detrimental to the nation.
“Education for the deaf is not cheap, however, to neglect this set of people is more expensive.
“To educate this people will be more profitable to the nation as they will become employed and become taxpayer citizens of Nigeria rather than becoming a burden on the society,” she said
The 51-year-old lecturer called on the government to emulate the U.S government in funding education for the deaf.
“Financial support from the government is necessary ‘to enhance access to education by the deaf and other people living with disabilities
“Gallaudet is a private university but we have support from the U.S. and provide quality education for the deaf and people with hard of hearing.
“I believe that Nigeria government should do the same,”
The don also called on parents to support the deaf by giving them quality education.
“These people can become great only that they should be given equal opportunity.
“The parents should be advised to educate their children with hearing defect, no child is worthless, give them equal opportunity no matter their status.
“Educate your children, you never know what they will become tomorrow.”
Rashid said Gallaudet University was into partnership with some university in Nigeria and had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wesley University, in Ondo state.
She said the MOU was aimed at helping the school develop its capacity in educating deaf students in Nigeria.
